Profile:

Gardeners' Notes:

Hosta longipes AKA 'Rock Hosta' and (Iwa Giboshi).
The nomenclature surrounding Hosta longipes is as confusing as the number of forms. Mark Zilis in his book, "The Hosta Handbook" lists the features as: small to medium-sized mound of green foliage; a highly variable, common Japanese species. Mound size: 10" high by 20" wide (16" by 40" for large form). Leaves 8" long by 5" wide, shiny, medium to dark green; very shiny underneath; slightly wavy; ovate blade with a slightly lobed base. Reddish purple dots on petioles; smooth texture with a thick substance. 8-9 vein pairs.

Flowers late August into late September; pale purple; petal margins whitish from base to halfway to tip; 2.5" long by 1/5" wide; long pedicels; scapes 20"-30" high; many pods.

Several types are listed, all having different forms and leaf shapes i.e. 'hypoglauca', 'viridpipes' and var. latifolia. There is also Hosta sparsa, torifrons, and rupifraga, which are closely related.